Arsene Wenger's team went ahead in the 35th minute when Theo Walcott set up Santi Cazorla and the Spanish midfielder fired home.

Wilshere hobbled off after a strong challenge from Alfred N'Diaye and Arsenal was reduced to 10 men when right-back Carl Jenkinson was dismissed for a second booking after fouling Stephane Sessegnon in the 62nd minute.

Wenger was furious with Sunderland's physical approach. Despite those setbacks, Arsenal held on for its third win in four league matches and climbed above Everton into fifth place.

Gareth Bale maintained his sublime form with a brilliant brace to inspire Tottenham's 2-1 victory over Newcastle at White Hart Lane.

Bale added to the growing belief that he is the best player in the Premier League with a superb free-kick to open the scoring early in the first half.

The Wales winger then bagged the late winner after Yoan Gouffran had equalised with his first Premier League goal for Newcastle.

Bale now has nine goals in his last 12 league appearances and his heroics extended fourth-placed Tottenham's unbeaten run to 10 league games.

When asked about the chances of Bale being tempted to join a bigger club, Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said: ''Most teams have to hang on to their best players. Barcelona losing Messi would be a disaster, Real Madrid losing Ronaldo would be a disaster - so this is exactly the same.''

Reading's hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a setback with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.

Swansea left QPR stuck to the bottom of the table with its 4-1 win at Swansea's Liberty Stadium.